May 21, 2010
REEL WEEK: Previewing a Cinematic Summer 2010
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
The sunny summer tentpole, adventure 3D mania for 2010 has just romped their first gallops from the starting gate. Instead, of a superhero/franchise June, July and August filled with heroes and sequels, the trend for this year appears family friendly. In addition, the sheer number of competing releases appear to be less than 2008 and 2009. It’s like the studios have caught on --- too many new films in one weekend , especially geared to similar audience demographics , generally, splits the market.
JUNE 4
GET HIM TO THE GREEK: Every college student wants an impressive internship and then to impress their employer. Jonah Hill lands a coveted job with a music company but his mission is arduous --- deliver diva-esque and attention deficit disorder suffering rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) to a contracted performance at L.A.’s Greek Theater. Warning: Make way for potty mouths and sordid situations since it’s from Judd (“Knocked Up,” “Funny People,” “40 Year Old Virgin”) Apatow, but he’s producing (a.k.a. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall) , not at the director’s helm. Pre-screenings have been occurring at universities and some buzz suggests another “Superbad” or “Hangover” in the wings as raunchy sleeper comedy of the summer.
KILLERS: Back in 2005 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie played a married couple who were undercover assassins. The flick picked up some second-tier award nominations for “best action/thriller” and, of course, the premise eventually yielded Brad and Angelina assigned to waste each other, or should I say, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Five years later, Jen (Katherine Heigl) and Spencer (Ashton Kutcher) have enjoyed nearly perfect marital bliss, except unknown to her hubby was an assassin and he’s now a target. Run, Jen, Run and learn to drive fast and furious.
MARMADUKE: No 3D or blitzing special effects, just a lovable Great Dane and his family , the Winslow’s, moving into a new home. Owen Wilson is the beloved dog’s voice. Has a scene of canines dancing to music in a (dog?) park. Kids will be happy, but adults could be wishing they were out scooping instead. If you like the comic strip and the humor of “Marley & Me,” you might be pleased.
JUNE 11
THE A TEAM: Back in the mid-80s, producer Stephen (“Greatest American Hero,” “Hardcastle and McCormick”, “Hunter”) introduced a team of Viet Nam vets on the run after being framed for bank robbery. They become good-guy vigilantes who took on mercenary jobs. The TV series starred George Peppard and Dwight Schultz, but flashback lovers will remember --- Mr. T. (B.A. Baracus) --- as the lynchpin of the show. For the big screen reinvention, the team has an updated premise: They are former Iraq War special forces vets trying to clear their name. Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson has the offshoot of the “Mr. T” role. Jessica Biel plays an ex-lover assigned to round them up and give them a “J” for jailed.
THE KARATE KID: How to take care of school bullies? Learn karate from a master. The premise is similar to the 1984 original, except twelve-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) and his mom move from Detroit to Beijing. The lad will find a coach in the form of Jackie Chan. Incidentally, some buzz from Chan hints that the title should be “Kung Fu Kid” due to the style of martial arts featured.
JUNE 18
TOY STORE III 3D: What would be worse than landing unwanted at the Smithsonian? (I know, wrong franchise) But, Buzz, Woody and those in this toy-box are dumped at a day care center after their former owner, Andy, heads off to an institution of higher learning (and playing with things other than toys). Humm, maybe, that would be an interesting spin-off… Buzz goes to find Andy and lands in a sorority.
JONAH HEX: Call it a comic book version of the famed “Wild Wild West” TV series, except you add a touch of a Sergio Leone’s spaghetti Eastwood Italian ‘west’ with the supernatural darkness of ‘Hellboy.” The plot: A scarred bounty hunter tracks down a voodoo merchant intent on sending an army of undead to liberate the South. Megan Fox, Josh Brolin, John Malkovich are the stars. But the last three movies by the pair who penned the screenplay --- Gamer, Pathology , Crank: High Voltage --- were not in contention for the weekend box office derby.
JUNE 25
GROWN UPS: What happens when you put Adam Sandler and Chris Rock at a “Big Chill” reunion to honor a mutual friend who passed away? Rob Schneider and David Spade join them. The dudes gather after their former basketball coach has soared to the Hall of Fame in the Sky.
KNIGHT AND DAY: Tom Cruise. Nearly July 4th holiday weekend. Agent kicks butt. Classified as “Mission Impossible” meets “Tropic Thunder,” Cruise is saving the world (again) with Cameron (“Vanilla Sky”) Diaz at his side for comedic and visual attentiveness.
JUNE 30
TWILIGHT/NEW MOON TRIPLE FANGS: Can’t get enough of Bella, Edward and Jacob? Well, one night only, I’m told, catch “Twilight” and “New Moon” together on the big screen then say until 12:01 a.m. and be the first to watch “Eclipse.”
TWILIGHT SAGA ECLIPSE: Now, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) has choices on her plate --- vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) wants to marry her and werewolf Jack Black (Taylor Lautner) has fallen in love with her also. You know, let’s substitute a little… a governess named Victoria Winters falls for Barnabus while Quentin (David Selby) tries to lure to of Winter’s young wards. Extra points for naming the series. Triple extra points for having watch any episode of the “soap”.
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REEL WEEK: Previewing a Cinematic Summer 2010
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
The sunny summer tentpole, adventure 3D mania for 2010 has just romped their first gallops from the starting gate. Instead, of a superhero/franchise June, July and August filled with heroes and sequels, the trend for this year appears family friendly. In addition, the sheer number of competing releases appear to be less than 2008 and 2009. It’s like the studios have caught on --- too many new films in one weekend , especially geared to similar audience demographics , generally, splits the market.
JUNE 4
GET HIM TO THE GREEK: Every college student wants an impressive internship and then to impress their employer. Jonah Hill lands a coveted job with a music company but his mission is arduous --- deliver diva-esque and attention deficit disorder suffering rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) to a contracted performance at L.A.’s Greek Theater. Warning: Make way for potty mouths and sordid situations since it’s from Judd (“Knocked Up,” “Funny People,” “40 Year Old Virgin”) Apatow, but he’s producing (a.k.a. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall) , not at the director’s helm. Pre-screenings have been occurring at universities and some buzz suggests another “Superbad” or “Hangover” in the wings as raunchy sleeper comedy of the summer.
KILLERS: Back in 2005 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie played a married couple who were undercover assassins. The flick picked up some second-tier award nominations for “best action/thriller” and, of course, the premise eventually yielded Brad and Angelina assigned to waste each other, or should I say, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Five years later, Jen (Katherine Heigl) and Spencer (Ashton Kutcher) have enjoyed nearly perfect marital bliss, except unknown to her hubby was an assassin and he’s now a target. Run, Jen, Run and learn to drive fast and furious.
MARMADUKE: No 3D or blitzing special effects, just a lovable Great Dane and his family , the Winslow’s, moving into a new home. Owen Wilson is the beloved dog’s voice. Has a scene of canines dancing to music in a (dog?) park. Kids will be happy, but adults could be wishing they were out scooping instead. If you like the comic strip and the humor of “Marley & Me,” you might be pleased.
JUNE 11
THE A TEAM: Back in the mid-80s, producer Stephen (“Greatest American Hero,” “Hardcastle and McCormick”, “Hunter”) introduced a team of Viet Nam vets on the run after being framed for bank robbery. They become good-guy vigilantes who took on mercenary jobs. The TV series starred George Peppard and Dwight Schultz, but flashback lovers will remember --- Mr. T. (B.A. Baracus) --- as the lynchpin of the show. For the big screen reinvention, the team has an updated premise: They are former Iraq War special forces vets trying to clear their name. Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson has the offshoot of the “Mr. T” role. Jessica Biel plays an ex-lover assigned to round them up and give them a “J” for jailed.
THE KARATE KID: How to take care of school bullies? Learn karate from a master. The premise is similar to the 1984 original, except twelve-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) and his mom move from Detroit to Beijing. The lad will find a coach in the form of Jackie Chan. Incidentally, some buzz from Chan hints that the title should be “Kung Fu Kid” due to the style of martial arts featured.
JUNE 18
TOY STORE III 3D: What would be worse than landing unwanted at the Smithsonian? (I know, wrong franchise) But, Buzz, Woody and those in this toy-box are dumped at a day care center after their former owner, Andy, heads off to an institution of higher learning (and playing with things other than toys). Humm, maybe, that would be an interesting spin-off… Buzz goes to find Andy and lands in a sorority.
JONAH HEX: Call it a comic book version of the famed “Wild Wild West” TV series, except you add a touch of a Sergio Leone’s spaghetti Eastwood Italian ‘west’ with the supernatural darkness of ‘Hellboy.” The plot: A scarred bounty hunter tracks down a voodoo merchant intent on sending an army of undead to liberate the South. Megan Fox, Josh Brolin, John Malkovich are the stars. But the last three movies by the pair who penned the screenplay --- Gamer, Pathology , Crank: High Voltage --- were not in contention for the weekend box office derby.
JUNE 25
GROWN UPS: What happens when you put Adam Sandler and Chris Rock at a “Big Chill” reunion to honor a mutual friend who passed away? Rob Schneider and David Spade join them. The dudes gather after their former basketball coach has soared to the Hall of Fame in the Sky.
KNIGHT AND DAY: Tom Cruise. Nearly July 4th holiday weekend. Agent kicks butt. Classified as “Mission Impossible” meets “Tropic Thunder,” Cruise is saving the world (again) with Cameron (“Vanilla Sky”) Diaz at his side for comedic and visual attentiveness.
JUNE 30
TWILIGHT/NEW MOON TRIPLE FANGS: Can’t get enough of Bella, Edward and Jacob? Well, one night only, I’m told, catch “Twilight” and “New Moon” together on the big screen then say until 12:01 a.m. and be the first to watch “Eclipse.”
TWILIGHT SAGA ECLIPSE: Now, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) has choices on her plate --- vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) wants to marry her and werewolf Jack Black (Taylor Lautner) has fallen in love with her also. You know, let’s substitute a little… a governess named Victoria Winters falls for Barnabus while Quentin (David Selby) tries to lure to of Winter’s young wards. Extra points for naming the series. Triple extra points for having watch any episode of the “soap”.
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